Cestrum plant named ‘WNCESCORYEL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Cestrum plant named ‘WNCESCORYEL’ is disclosed, characterized by continuous, heavy flowering, and compact plant habit with superior branching and form. The new cultivar is a Cestrum, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Cestrum corymbosum.

Variety denomination: ‘WNCESCORYEL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program by theinventor. The self-pollination resulting in the new variety was madeduring August of 2015, at a nursery in Bonsall, Calif. The parent is theunpatented internal Cestrum seedling designated ‘16BR’. The inventordiscovered this new variety at the same nursery in July 2016.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interestingselection, the inventor first propagated plants of ‘WNCESCORYEL’ byvegetative tip cuttings during August of 2016 at the same nursery inBonsall, Calif. Multiple generations have been reproduced and have shownthat the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type.

Date of first sale was Jun. 21, 2022, occurring in Grand Haven, Mich.This sale was made directly by the inventor or one who obtained theclaimed invention directly or indirectly from the inventor. This saleand all public disclosures made between Jun. 21, 2022 and the filing ofthis application fall within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘WNCESCORYEL’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘WNCESCORYEL’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘WNCESCORYEL’ as a new and distinct Cestrum cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact habit with superior branching and form.    -   2. Heavy flowering.    -   3. Long bloom period (continuously blooming).

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘WNCESCORYEL’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to theparent variety. Plants of the new cultivar ‘WNCESCORYEL’ however, differin the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a compact habit with heavy branching,        while the parent has a more vigorous habit with less branching.    -   2. The new variety has greater bloom coverage during flowering        period than the parent.    -   3. The new variety has a longer blooming period than the parent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a plantof ‘WNCESCORYEL’ grown outdoors in Grand Haven, Mich.

FIG. 2 shows a closer view of flowers on plants of the new variety.

Plants photographed are approximately 2 to 3 years old. The photographswere taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘WNCESCORYEL’ plants grown in apoly-greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. in November 2021. Plants areapproximately 2 to 3 years old, in #3 containers. The average day timetemperature is 18-27° C., average night temperature is 5-10° C.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Cestrum corymbosum ‘WNCESCORYEL’.

PROPAGATION

-   Method: Vegetative tip cuttings.-   Time to rooting: 1 week at 18-27° C. during summer.-   Time to produce a rooted plant: 5 to 6 weeks during summer.-   Root description: Moderately dense, moderate branching, medium    thickness, fibrous. Off-white to tan in color, not accurately    measured by the color chart.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial flowering shrub.-   Plant shape: Upright.-   Growth habit: Upwards.-   Height: 80 cm.-   Plant spread: 65 cm.-   Growth rate: Good.-   Plant vigor: Fairly vigorous.-   Branching characteristics:    -   -   Lateral branches.—Branching Habit: Basal. Quantity:            About 20. Length: 60 cm. Diameter. 5 mm.        -   Stem.—Shape: Rounded. Aspect. 70° to 90°. Strength: Strong.            Pubescence: Yes, on new growth only. Color: New Growth: RHS            Yellow-Green 147B. Old Growth: Near RHS Grey-Brown 199D.        -   Internode.—2 to 1 cm, decreasing from base to tip.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Sub-opposite.        -   Length.—7.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.75 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent with pronounced            venation.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green NN137B. Young            foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Mature foliage            upper side: RHS Green NN137B. Mature foliage under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 147B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Yellow-Green 147B. Venation color under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 147B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 147B with Black 203B.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Summer through fall.-   Flowers:    -   -   Arrangement.—Salverform flowers in terminal corymbs.        -   Flowering habit.—Terminal ends of lateral branches.        -   Inflorescence type.—Corymb.        -   Inflorescence height.—4 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—6 cm.        -   Flower shape.—Salverform.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—About 25 to 50.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—100 to 200.        -   Quantity of buds per lateral stem.—About 100.        -   Flower diameter.—7.5 mm.        -   Flower depth.—2 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter, top.—5 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—2 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—2 cm.        -   Flower throat texture.—Glabrous.        -   Flower tube texture.—Glabrous.        -   Flower tube color.—RHS Yellow-Orange 23B and 23C.        -   Flower throat color.—RHS Yellow-Orange 23B and 23C.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—Light and sweet.-   Petals:    -   -   Length.—2 mm from throat.        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Shape.—Triangular.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Arrangement.—Whorl of 5, stellate.        -   Number.—5.        -   Appearance.—Glabrous.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: RHS Yellow-Orange            23B. Under surface at first opening RHS Yellow-Orange 23C.            Upper surface at maturity: RHS Yellow-Orange 23B. Under            surface at maturity: RHS Yellow-Orange 23C.-   Petaloids: Absent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Linear, flared tip.        -   Length.—1.75 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow 13B and 13C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Width.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Shape.—Triangular.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Arrangement.—Whorl of 5, stellate.        -   Number.—5.        -   Appearance.—Diminutive (less than 1 mm), triangular.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS Green-Yellow 1C. Under surface:            RHS Green-Yellow 1C.        -   Calyx shape.—Collar-like.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Angle.—90°.        -   Strength.—Good.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—1.5 mm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Angle.—45°.        -   Strength.—Good, somewhat flexible.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—5 mm.        -   Filament color.—RHS Yellow-Orange 19C.        -   Anthers.—Length: 1 mm. Color: RHS Greyed-Orange 174A.            Pollen: Quantity: Sparse. Color: RHS White 155A. Shape:            Round.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Style.—Length: less than 1 mm. Color: RHS White 155A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility    to normal diseases and pests of Cestrum observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Cold tolerance to −31° C. Heat tolerance to    38° C.-   Fruit/seed: Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cestrum plantnamed ‘WNCESCORYEL’ as herein illustrated and described.